Multibook Deal Includes Final Book in Artemis Fowl Series as Well as Debut of the New W.A.R.P. Series
Disney-Hyperion Books, an imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide, has acquired the eighth and final installment of internationally best-selling author Eoin Colfer's hit Artemis Fowl series. Colfer will also helm a new series for the publisher in an additional two-book deal. The agreement for North American rights was negotiated by Stephanie Owens Lurie, Editorial Director, Disney-Hyperion, and Sophie Hicks, Ed Victor, Ltd.
Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer (Photo Credit: Michael Paynter)
The final Artemis Fowl book—The Last Guardian—will be published in Summer 2012. The first book in the brand-new W.A.R.P series, The Reluctant Assassin, will be published in Winter 2013. The assassin of the title is young Riley, who has fallen into the FBI's W.A.R.P.—Witness Anonymous Relocation Program—after a murderous escapade with a Victorian illusionist. Riley is transported to modern-day London, where he must both evade the illusionist and keep him from returning to Victorian times, where, with his new knowledge of all things scientific and technological, he could literally change the world. Additional W.A.R.P. books will follow every year.
"W.A.R.P. is an exciting new venture for me that combines a love of Victorian crime fiction, which I developed from reading Sherlock Holmes, and my fascination with science fiction, which has always been a hallmark of my books," said Colfer. "W.A.R.P. is dark and funny and hopefully thrilling, and I am over the moon that Disney-Hyperion Books is prepared to journey into the past and future with me."
"As the Artemis Fowl series hits its tenth year in print, we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone with brand-new books from Eoin Colfer that are bound to be equally ambitious, imaginative, and witty," said Lurie. "W.A.R.P. promises to be a wild ride, with trips through time and a deliciously evil villain in hot pursuit of our young hero. Let's just hope Artemis doesn't get jealous!"
ABOUT EOIN COLFER:
Eoin Colfer grew up in Wexford, Ireland. He first developed a passion for writing in primary school, reading books about Vikings inspired by his history lessons at the time.
Since 2001, Eoin Colfer's best-selling Artemis Fowl series (dubbed "Die Hard with fairies") has been delighting fans worldwide, selling over 12 million copies in the United States alone. Starring an irresistible antihero, these middle-grade must-reads follow Artemis on his James Bond-like adventures. In 2010, the penultimate book in the series—Artemis Fowl: The Atlantis Complex—was published with the support of Colfer's live Artemis Rocks! talk-show-style stage performance.
Beyond the world of Artemis Fowl, Eoin has tackled the adventures of the skies with Airman, drawing on his great loves of classic adventure stories, nineteenth-century science fiction, and the superhero genre; sent readers on a journey of second chances in The Wish List, where joy is found in the most unexpected places; and enthralled readers with The Supernaturalist, an eerie and captivating original story, complete with Eoin's now trademark high-tech action and humor.
Eoin is married to Jackie, a former teacher, and they have two sons. They live in Wexford, Ireland, and in the South of France.
About Disney Publishing Worldwide
Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) is the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines, with over 250 million children's books and over 400 million children's magazines sold each year. Disney Publishing Worldwide consists of vertically integrated publishing imprints including Disney Book Group in the U.S., Disney Libri in Italy and Disney Libros in Spain, as well as an extensive worldwide licensing structure. DPW also publishes a range of children's magazines globally including Topolino, Le Journal de Mickey, and Donald Duck, as well as family titles in the U.S. which include Disney FamilyFun. Disney English is DPW's English language learning business, including Disney English schools in China and a worldwide retail licensing program. Headquartered in White Plains, NY, Disney Publishing Worldwide publishes books, magazines, and digital products in 75 languages in 85 countries. For more information visit www.disneypublishing.com.
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Contacts:
Disney Publishing Worldwide
Jennifer Corcoran, 914-288-4312
jennifer.corcoran@disney.com
